I forgot that I made one of these for 2017 until I found myself casually perusing the archives today. Although perhaps 7 days late in tradition, and even in that I don’t hold too much emotional stake in the Gregorian calendar, I think it’s a good yearly exercise and a fine thing to look back on, to see where I was & where I’ve headed, and to always remind myself that moving forward is something I’m very good at and should never forgo...
January: Spent 2 weeks in Costa Rica- 1 week with JK in La Fortuna, Monteverde, & Quepos, 1 week playing shows in San Jose & on the Caribbean Coast w/ GB. Came back to LA for 2 days before departing to Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Tonsai & Railay Beaches, Koh Phangan), Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, Hue, Danang, Hoi An, Saigon), Indonesia (Bali- Uluwatu, Ubud, Kuta), & Australia (Sydney, Melbourne) for 6 weeks, mostly all with SD. Got Sak Yant tattoo blessing in Chiang Mai. Broke wrist in motorbike accident on Koh Phangan. Unbelievably epic 2 month voyage with lessons still unfolding.
March: Returned from SE Asia/Australia with wildly renewed perspective. Quit smoking on March 23, which started an unbelievable chain reaction of events that would change the course of my life. With the help of a month-long pet/house sitting gig with full vehicle privileges, got back into hiking on the reg. Ultimately replaced smoking with hiking.
April: Spent all free time hiking the San Gabriel Mountains. Summited Mt Wilson for the 2nd time.
May: Broken wrist finally healed without any help from a doctor. Could finally play piano/guitars again. Made the decision to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc/travel around France for the month of September. Went to Portland for 10 days to hike PNW mountains, visit Will, & adventure to Wallowa Lake in Eastern Oregon with him.
June: Summited Mt Baden-Powell for the first time.
July: Back to Portland, back to Wallowa with different crew.
September: Spent 1 solo night in Geneva before bussing to Chamonix/Les Houches in The French Alps where in 2 days time I’d begin the Tour du Mont Blanc (115 mile hike around the highest peak in The Alps passing through France, Italy, & Switzerland, done completely solo in 11 days with just 1 rest day in Courmayeur, Italy, half camping and half staying in refuges along the way.) Most incredible experience of my life. Traveled solo by train to Annecy, Lyon, Nice, Toulouse, Albi, Bordeaux, & Paris thereafter. Made it a point to plan as little as possible on this trip and to therefore create a whimsical journey. Much needed after how planny SE Asia & Aus had to be and after the fact that the planning was my responsibility entirely (no complaints- I willingly took on the task.) Connected with JL via IG somewhere along the way and managed to pick up on some vibes he was sending my way...
October: Camped solo in Bishop, CA on 2 separate occasions, each only 1 week apart. Hiked Bishop Pass & Big Pine Lakes Trails on respective visits. Boldly reached out to JL, sending the vibes right back his way. Much to my elated surprise, he began texting me within a few shorts days. Got a car after not having one for 7 years. Hiked/camped Mt San Jacinto with TH.
November: Visited/camped/hiked Santa Cruz Island of Channel Islands National Park for the second time, this time with JK. Summited San Bernardino Peak.
December: First real hang with JL on Dec 18, first real date on Dec 20. Spent xmas together (and every day for the 1.5 weeks surrounding it) in LA. Spent New Years (and 5 days surrounding it) together in The Bay Area. Fully smitten. Completely fucked...
